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Here are photos from Kuala Lumpur, capital of Malaysia. They include pictures of the National Mosque, Mary Anne visiting the Mosque, Butterflies from a Malaysian butterfly farm, the Petronas Twin Towers, Melaka (Independence) Square, and Mary Anne with friends from the cruise.  Also includes footage taken at the Aquarium.

Joe

Petronas Twin Towers of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Orange and White Butterfly

Masjid Negara, the National Mosque in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Melaka Square Kuala Lumpur

Mary Anne, Maliki, Paula and Donald

Mary Anne in Kuala Lumpur

Mary Anne visiting the National Mosque

Butterfly on a Leaf

Butterfly Landing in Flower

Black Butterfly on a Yellow Flower

Footage taken at the KL Aquarium

Some photos of life on the Island of Java including Borobudur Temple, the largest in Indonesia; traditional Javanese dancers; a Javanese coffee shop, and Mary Anne posing with a friend from the ship by a statue of a young Buddha on a cow.

Joe

A sample of the panels of artwork that cover the exterior of Borobudur Temple.

Tennis Court and Observation Area under a Thatched Roof in Java

Mary Anne and Ricki pose by a statue of the Buddha on a cow, near Borobudur Temple.

Mid morning coffee break

Traditional Javanese Dance

All the stones are balanced without mortar

Decorative parasols on display at Java coffee house

Note the scale by looking at the people on the right and left corners of the photo

As we left Hamilton Island setting sail for Darwin, the ship’s captain married a young couple at sea. As pictures were being taken after the ceremony, the bride indicated that she would like some of the photos to show the gorgeous sunset in the background. At first this appeared to pose a bit of a dilemma since the sun was setting on the opposite side of the ship from where the pictures were being taken. Not a problem for the Crystal Serenity officers and crew, though. The Captain ordered the ship to circle around; the photos were taken and we then we proceeded on our way.

And speaking of photos, here are some taken in Darwin, in the Northern territories in the Australian Outback.

Joe

Wedge-tailed eagle with trainer in the Australian outback

A Coocal Bird lands on Trainer’s Arm

Lily Pads in the Australian Outback

Wedge-tailed eagle on trainer’s glove in the Australian outback

We are anchored off Hamilton Island, one of the 74 islands that make up the Whitsunday chain. Along the way we have done a lot of sightseeing in Sydney, in Brisbane, and sailing around Hamilton Island.

Here are some photos.

Ships anchored at the Hamilton Island Yacht Club. Jet skiers glide by in the distance.

Sydney Harbor, Australia

Sailing along the river with the Brisbane skyline behind us.

Entering the harbor by the Hamilton Island Yacht Club

A Ferris Wheel in Brisbane, Australia near the river bank

Crystal Serenity anchored off Hamilton Island, Australia

An outdoor Cafe in Sydney Australia

Brisbane skyline shot from a boat on the Brisbane River

Restaurants along the Sydney Harbor

Photo of the Sydney skyline as day breaks

Two busy days in Sydney. Among other things, we toured the iconic Sydney Opera House.

The iconic Sydney Opera House

We visited an Australian wildlife reserve.

Photo of a Lizard at an Australian wildlife reserve

And we walked along the Sydney Harbor on a walking tour of “The Rocks” a section of the city.

Restaurants and Buildings on Sydney Harbor

Joe

The waters got a bit rough last night. But the saloons stayed open. Maybe it had something to do with the Captain’s announcement that by leaving Fiji when we did we beat a Cyclone, complete with 60-foot waves, by 2-days.

Anyway, here are some pictures of Birds we saw on Noumea, New Caledonia. (Sorry it’s slow getting the pictures posted, but they take a lot of bandwidth out here).

A Wedge-tailed shearwater sits on a pole seemingly like a lookout

Birds on a Tree Limb

We are at sea headed for Sydney Australia, having left Noumea, New Caledonia where it is now Valentine’s day. So here are some pictures from Noumea, including some “Love Birds” for Valentine’s Day.

Joe

A Toucan with his beak wide open.

Noumean Birds Flirting

Talk about service. We made a quick side trip to Mystery Island, a very small island that is part of a chain of islands known as Vanuata. The cruise ship set up a bar on the beach for cruise guests and the staff waded into the Pacific to serve drinks. See the picture.

Joe

Canoes on shore in the South Pacific

Wait staff brings drinks to partiers in the Pacific

Some shots from Lautoka, Fiji, including: orchids from the Garden of the Sleeping Giant, created by Raymond Burr of Perry Mason fame; local traders showing their wares, and the house of a village Chief.

Lautoka traders showing their wares to tourists

Orchids in the Garden of the Sleeping Giant

Picture of the house of a village chief on the island of Lautoka, Fiji

Fiji is stunningly beautiful. Here are some pictures.

Anchored off Yasawa-i-Rara, Fiji with a small tender taking passengers to shore

Local traders offering their goods to tourists on Yasawa-i-Rara, Fiji

Boats anchored in the shallow water of the beach,Yasawa-i-Rara, Fiji

Pictures from Samoa…

View of Bluffs in Samoa along the Coastal Walk

A view of Papapaitai Falls in the rain forest

Flowers and Foliage in the Samoan rain forest

Mary Anne by the Serenity in the dock in Samoa